St John the Baptist Church, Stanbridge.

We are your premier support for Tearle family history. We research the lives of individual Tearles and their families, and tell their stories, backed up by a database with over 5500 names. So far we have 213 stories and histories – called “posts” – of interest to those who want to see what happened to families of ordinary men and women who sometimes risked everything to do something new.

We also have factual articles on the times and pressures that forced changes to the way our families worked and even where they lived.

New Story

We have two new stories, both from Wing, Buckinghamshire, UK.

Dennis Tearle’s wife, Betty Tearle nee Renshaw, wanted to know the complete story of her younger brother, William Renshaw, killed when the Japanese invaded Singapore. Elaine and I went to the Kranji CWGC Memorial, and we found the documentation to show when William was killed. We could not find the ship upon which he, and many other servicemen, lost their lives, but we did discover a chilling truth.

The second story is about the bridge that Levi Tearle built on the road from wing to Mentmore. This Levi Tearle was my great-grandfather, of whom I am very proud.

Work in Progress

Sgt Francis Joseph Tearle, survived flying Bristol Blenheims in the Battle of Britain and was transferred to 1435 flight, in Malta during the WW2 Siege of Malta, flying Bristol Beaufighters. Elaine and I have visited Beaufighters in Scotland, Duxford and the RAF Museum in Hendon. I have written a background story on these magnificent, heavily armed, although largely forgotten, aerial weapons. The story is mostly completed, and will lead on to a major story of the Tearles who worked in Malta – Sgt Tearle was one of three.

We are currently working on the background story of Sgt FJ Tearle, a son of Patrick Matthew Tearle and Catherine nee Burns. Sgt Tearle is listed on the Battle of Britain memorial outside Westminster Underground Station. He grew up in a very busy and talented family, who lived in Willenhall, Staffs, then Glasgow and finally in Cardiff. I am working my way through quite a large family, some of whom had remarkable lives. I am pleased to be able to document their stories.

Battle of Britain Memorial near Westminster Tube Station

We are still researching this story, and updating as we go.


Tearle Stories – the history of the world-wide Tearle family


Tearle Stories UK – the history of the Tearle family in the UK


Tearles who served – dedicated to the men and women of WW1 and WW2


Tearle Meets – look back at Tearle Meets in Stanbridge.


London Stories – records my discoveries of London in and near the City


Tearles on Tour – dedicated to telling the tales of our adventures traveling


About us – introducing the people behind tearle.org.uk


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